Accra, Sept. 14, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday praised the United States for its support for the peace process in Somalia as well as help towards alleviating the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa.

He urged the United States not to relent in her efforts, but continue to contribute in diverse ways towards the transitional process in Somalia.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Office of the former President said he was speaking when the American Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Donald Teitelbaum, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.

Former President Rawlings, who is also the African Union High Representative for Somalia, said significant progress had been made with the Somali transitional process following the adoption of a revised transitional roadmap at a recent consultative meeting involving the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and other stakeholders.

He said the continued support of the international community was paramount and commended the United States for its financial and logistical contributions to the process of building permanent state institutions in Somalia.

This year the United States has committed a total of $580 million towards the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa.

By December 2010, the US government had provided a total of $215 million to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and to the Somali Transitional Federal Government since the deployment of AMISOM forces and the signing of the Djibouti peace agreement.